Octopus walks - by Haruchai on 14:51 25 Mar 2005
Walking Octopus
Quote:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two little species of Indian Ocean octopus can tuck up six of their arms while running on the other two, U.S. researchers reported on Thursday.
They can use their other six arms to disguise themselves from predators, either as rolling coconuts or clumps of floating algae, the team at the University of California Berkeley and Universitas Sam Ratulangi in North Sulawesi, Indonesia found.
The discovery, published in Friday's issue of the journal Science, discredits theories that walking requires hard bones and skeletal muscle, as octopuses have neither.
"We have observed octopuses that do indeed walk," Berkeley's Christine Huffard and colleagues write in their report.
"This locomotion differs from their normal crawling, which usually involves several arms sprawling around the body, using the suckers to push and pull the animal along."
The researchers have videotaped the animals, one the size of a walnut and the other the size of an apple, "walking."
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Go check out the video. Trippy.
Could an admin fix that lengthy link? Please?
Edit: You got it! ~ Ari
Walking Octopus
Quote:
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two little species of Indian Ocean octopus can tuck up six of their arms while running on the other two, U.S. researchers reported on Thursday.
They can use their other six arms to disguise themselves from predators, either as rolling coconuts or clumps of floating algae, the team at the University of California Berkeley and Universitas Sam Ratulangi in North Sulawesi, Indonesia found.
The discovery, published in Friday's issue of the journal Science, discredits theories that walking requires hard bones and skeletal muscle, as octopuses have neither.
"We have observed octopuses that do indeed walk," Berkeley's Christine Huffard and colleagues write in their report.
"This locomotion differs from their normal crawling, which usually involves several arms sprawling around the body, using the suckers to push and pull the animal along."
The researchers have videotaped the animals, one the size of a walnut and the other the size of an apple, "walking."
-----
Go check out the video. Trippy.
Could an admin fix that lengthy link? Please?
Edit: You got it! ~ Ari
Octopus walks - by Arislyn on 15:02 25 Mar 2005
That is just darned cool!
Hehe! When I first read that, I was like "No way!" because I thought they were walking on land. But, once I saw the video and saw they are still underwater, I can see how they are able to walk.
That is just darned cool!
Hehe! When I first read that, I was like "No way!" because I thought they were walking on land. But, once I saw the video and saw they are still underwater, I can see how they are able to walk.
Octopus walks - by Haruchai on 15:07 25 Mar 2005
Nature never ceases to amaze, huh?
Nature never ceases to amaze, huh?
Octopus walks - by Arislyn on 15:21 25 Mar 2005
Definitely. Heck, there's still so much for us to discover in the oceans. It's a huge, huge world and we've only seen a fraction of what it has to offer.
Definitely. Heck, there's still so much for us to discover in the oceans. It's a huge, huge world and we've only seen a fraction of what it has to offer.
Octopus walks - by Haruchai on 15:44 25 Mar 2005
I know that octopi and squid are very smart and very clever. I wonder how they rate compared to say, dolphins. I know dolphins are very smart as well.
Has anyone else heard about an octopus or a squid being able to figure out how to get food from a closed jar?
I know that octopi and squid are very smart and very clever. I wonder how they rate compared to say, dolphins. I know dolphins are very smart as well.
Has anyone else heard about an octopus or a squid being able to figure out how to get food from a closed jar?
Octopus walks - by Arislyn on 16:17 25 Mar 2005
Yeah, I've read about that. I think I've actually seen documentation of it on one of the science channels.
I'm not sure how they rate vs. dolphins. Heh. I know Runt always feels a bit bad when we eat them. He always comments on how smart they are and how we shouldn't be frying them up...but I jut smile and pop another in my mouth. Calamari is goooooood eatin'!
Yeah, I've read about that. I think I've actually seen documentation of it on one of the science channels.
I'm not sure how they rate vs. dolphins. Heh. I know Runt always feels a bit bad when we eat them. He always comments on how smart they are and how we shouldn't be frying them up...but I jut smile and pop another in my mouth. Calamari is goooooood eatin'!
Octopus walks - by NoonChild on 08:44 29 Mar 2005
I have heard stories of researchers who have underestimated their Octopus friends. There was a lab where the naturalists came in every morning to find their crayfish tank severely depleated. After replacing the crustacians only to find them disappearing again, they installed cameras to solve the mystery. When they played back the tape they found that the Octopus from the tank on the other side of the room was escaping, pulling himself accross the floor, up in to the tank and having a small snack before returning to his own tank.
The crayfish were invisible to the Octopus once it was on the floor, so this shows it has the kind of mind that can hold the idea of an object in its mind even when the object is out of sight. Those with children will know that this ability takes time to develope in humans, and some household pets never develope this ability.
I have also seen footage of Octopus' immitating more threatening creatures such as sharks, by twisting their bodies in to different shapes.
I have heard stories of researchers who have underestimated their Octopus friends. There was a lab where the naturalists came in every morning to find their crayfish tank severely depleated. After replacing the crustacians only to find them disappearing again, they installed cameras to solve the mystery. When they played back the tape they found that the Octopus from the tank on the other side of the room was escaping, pulling himself accross the floor, up in to the tank and having a small snack before returning to his own tank.
The crayfish were invisible to the Octopus once it was on the floor, so this shows it has the kind of mind that can hold the idea of an object in its mind even when the object is out of sight. Those with children will know that this ability takes time to develope in humans, and some household pets never develope this ability.
I have also seen footage of Octopus' immitating more threatening creatures such as sharks, by twisting their bodies in to different shapes.
Octopus walks - by draconknight on 18:50 29 Mar 2005
Nature is a wonder dont you agree? and first it was fishes now its octopus whats next a whale?
Nature is a wonder dont you agree? and first it was fishes now its octopus whats next a whale?